“An’ she said she’d bring it back wi’ her when she sailed for America,” added the old Scotchman, joyously; and Helen left him happy in the thought that although her farewell saddened him, there soon would be a dearer friend to greet him.
Farmer Gray had driven to the village early that morning, and when he returned he greeted Helen cheerily, at the same time handing her a letter, saying, “I hope it is full of good news, Miss Dayton.”
It proved to be a letter from her aunt, urging Helen to start at once for home, as an uncle who had not seen her since she was a very little girl was making a short stay in Boston, and wished very much to see his niece before he returned to his home in a western city.
“I am proud of you, Helen, as you know,” wrote the dear old lady, “and I so earnestly wish Robert to see you that I wish you would start as soon as you receive this letter.”
Helen left for Boston early that morning, asking Mrs. Gray to tell Randy that she would write to her as soon as she reached home. Helen’s departure was only a day earlier than she had intended, yet she regretted to leave in such haste. She had wished to bid Randy and dear little Prue an affectionate good-by and reiterate her promise of a flying visit sometime during the winter months.
As she sat looking out of the car window and watched the little town receding, she thought of Randy’s sweet face, and like a vision it appeared before her with grieved eyes and quivering lips, just as she knew the girl would look when Mrs. Gray told her of her friend’s departure. Then a bright thought occurred to her, and a happy smile played about her lips.
Opening her little bag she took from it a block of paper, such as she had used for memoranda, and with a pencil she commenced a note to Randy. She would obtain an envelope and stamp as soon as she reached Boston. Helen possessed a merry wit, and leaf after leaf of the little block she filled with a breezy account of her journey. She described at length the man with three immense leather bags, who tried in vain to walk down the aisle with all that baggage, and was at last compelled to make three separate trips; the old lady with a box containing a cat which mewed dismally all the way; the woman with four children, who seemed to have an endless supply of lunches, yet cried for more; the boy peddling prize candy, and any number of small happenings.
The writing served to make the long ride less tedious, and she knew that the letter would make Randy smile through her tears.
When Randy and Prue appeared at breakfast time they were amazed to find Aunt Prudence at the table.